News

Sonnet Launches Thunderbolt 3-to-PCIe Card Expansion Systems

16/01/2017

IRVINE, USA: Sonnet Technologies has officially launched its first Thunderbolt 3-to-PCIe card expansion systems, the Echo Express SEL - Thunderbolt 3 Edition and the Echo Express SE I - Thunderbolt 3 Edition. Like the other members of the award-winning Echo Express family, the SEL and SE I enable the use of a wide variety of high-performance PCI Express (PCIe) cards with computers equipped with Thunderbolt ports. Both the SEL and SE I are compact and lightweight single-slot Thunderbolt 3 expansion systems, differing only in size, that are ideal for use in situations in which users only need to connect a single PCIe card.
With the new interface, both systems enable users of computers equipped with 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, such as the new MacBook Pro, to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3's 2,750 MB/s of PCI Express bandwidth to support the most demanding, highest performance adapter cards. Sonnet is also making available Thunderbolt 3 upgrade cards for existing Thunderbolt 2 Echo Express SEL and SE I expansion systems, enabling those models with all the capabilities of the new Thunderbolt 3 Editions.

"We are delighted to begin shipping the Echo Express SEL and SE I, the first Thunderbolt 3-to-PCIe card expansion chassis to ship with both macOS and Windows compatibility," said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. "We are also proud to be delivering on our promise of upgradability by offering our customers a Thunderbolt 3 upgrade cards for their current Thunderbolt 2-based Echo Express SEL and SE I expansion chassis."

The Echo Express SE I and Echo Express SEL Thunderbolt 3 Editions feature dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 ports that support the daisy chaining of up to five additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices. Both models support backward compatibility for 20Gbps Thunderbolt 2- and 10Gbps Thunderbolt-equipped devices when connected via the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter. As an added benefit, the second Thunderbolt 3 port also supports a variety of displays and a multitude of USB 3.1, USB 3.0, and USB 2.0 devices when connected with the proper cable, and also fully support the DisplayPort 1.2 protocol, which enables streaming to one 4K display at 120Hz, or two 4K displays at 60Hz, or one 5K display at 60Hz.

Both the Echo Express SE I - Thunderbolt 3 Edition and the Echo Express SEL - Thunderbolt 3 Edition are housed in rugged aluminum enclosures and each features an ultra-quiet, temperature-controlled fan that automatically speeds up and slows down as necessary to cool the installed card quietly and efficiently. Each Echo Express Thunderbolt 3 Edition chassis also includes a 0.5-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) cable as well as Sonnet's exclusive ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt Connector Retainer Clip to secure the cable to the chassis and prevent accidental cable disconnects.

Like the other models in the Echo Express family, the Thunderbolt 3 Editions of the Echo Express SE I and Echo Express SEL were designed, engineered, and built by Sonnet Technologies in California. The list of compatible PCIe cards is available on Sonnet's website, and is continually expanding as more cards are tested and certified.